King 'heartbroken' by floods as search for missing, including 33 from UK, continues

King Charles and Queen Camilla described themselves as “heartbroken” by the deadly flash floods that struck the Nepal‑Tibet border, a sentiment echoed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who said they were “thinking of everyone caught up in this unspeakable disaster.” The death toll has risen to at least 359, with more than 1,300 people reported missing, 644 of whom are tourists according to Nepali authorities. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that the UK has offered £5 million to assist Nepalese authorities in the flood response, calling the situation “very distressing and devastating.” The King added that he and the Queen were sending their “most profound sympathy to all those who have tragically lost loved ones,” noting the strong, deep and personal ties many in the United Kingdom have with the region. He expressed profound concern for families awaiting news of friends and relatives, and extended thoughts to the families of police and armed forces personnel who lost their lives while carrying out their duties. British resident Pramod Pudel, who lives in East Sussex but was born in Nepal, told BBC Radio Sussex on Thursday that “nothing remains” where his family lives and that he is flying back to search for his wife, mother, brother and uncle. He described the moment as “a very, very hard time for me and for my family and my country at this moment, but obviously I have to go and see what’s happening there.” Pudel added, “A lot of people are missing and there is no information regarding who is missing, where they are. Nobody can contact each other and all the bridges are broken, so you can’t cross the land. There’s no power, no electricity, so I can’t contact anyone, so it’s a very hard time not knowing what’s happening.” Tour operators have reported missing British nationals among their clients. Alpine Eco Trek said it has been unable to make contact with 12 Britons who were booked on a Mount Kailash trek and were in the area when the flash floods struck; the company’s logs, shared with the Press Association, list a 13‑year‑old girl as the youngest missing person. Four of the firm’s Nepali trek guides are also missing. The Trekkers’ Society reported that nine UK nationals on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash are missing after crossing the Nepal‑Tibet border: four males aged between 14 and 50, and five females aged 40 to 53 remain unaccounted for. Himalayan Glacier US had 47 guests on a Mount Kailash pilgrimage, two of whom are British citizens. Kailash Journeys said 27 guests and staff were missing, including two British men in the group. Fishtail Tours noted that one British individual on its tour is missing. The floods began early Wednesday in Rasuwa, just north of Kathmandu. Initial reports suggested an earthquake as the cause, but the United States Geological Survey later stated that further investigation indicated “the seismic energy was alternatively generated by a landslide.” The USGS said a magnitude 5.2 seismic event caused by a “glacial lake outburst and debris flow” occurred near the border at 08:37 local time on Wednesday. Officials in Nepal warned of a possible secondary flood hazard near the Bhote Koshi river, and the UK Foreign Office urged travellers to follow local guidance and remain alert to the changing situation, adding that it is working closely with Nepali authorities.